The 2003 British Grand Prix turned out to be one of the most exciting in years, packed with audacious overtaking moves and swings of fortune, comments CAR deputy editor John Bentley.
Bernie Ecclestone’s continuing negative comments about Silverstone and the British Grand Prix make me livid. Despite efforts by track owners the British Racing Driver’s Club and other interests to effect improvements for this year’s race, the slagging continues.
So what if Silverstone’s pits are a bit old? There is a plan for a new complex to be built in future years. The circuit itself is one of the finest on the calendar, and always delivers a fantastic race. That’s more than can be said for the plethora of new stadium tracks that enjoy the support of F1’s ringmaster.
The 2003 edition of the British classic turned out to be one of the most exciting in years, packed with audacious overtaking moves and swings of fortune. But the act of the kilted madman who wandered on to Hangar Straight, causing the safety car to be deployed, was a body blow.
Coming after the scathing verbal attacks from Ecclestone, the incident could result in Silverstone going the way of other venues unable, or unwilling, to follow the sanitised stadium formula. There’s no place for sentiment in Formula One. And, for the controllers of modern-day grand prix racing, plush accommodation appears to be higher up the agenda than exciting racing. – John Bentley